Report: Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor to receive Medal of Honor

posted at 9:50 am on March 18, 2008 by Allahpundit

The name may not ring a bell but if you’re a blog reader you’ve heard of him. So valorous were his actions that even a media not inclined to celebrate the heroism of U.S. troops noticed his death when it happened. What kind of man are we talking about here? He won the Silver Star for pulling a comrade to safety in May 2006; four months later he was on a roof in Ramadi with three other SEALs when an insurgent tossed a grenade up. It bounced off his chest and dropped to the floor in front of them. “He never took his eye off the grenade, his only movement was down toward it,” said one of the three. His family will be at the White House on April 8 to receive the recognition due.

media not inclined to celebrate the heroism of U.S. troops noticed his death when it happened

Sorry, but the media did NOT notice his death and if you Google him you will only find a couple of articles about the fact he is getting the MOH by local CA papers. Google does not consider military.com the media and does not list its articles in the news section.

It is important to not view our nation or our people the way the Obamas see America, but to understand that there is an America worth our lives, and an American so great I am not worthy to stand in his shadow.

At 3:55 Iraqi soldiers are saluting him. That says it all. This man gave his life for his friends, not for oil, not for empire, but for the freedom of the oppressed and so that we here at home can go to Starbuck’s or take our kids to Chuckie Cheese and not worry about being killed in a carbomb attack. God bless you Micheal, it’s because of people like you that the rest of us live in peace and freedom.

Hard to listen to anything Obama has to say when you read about men like this.
My family just recently buried our father in the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. He was a Coast Guard/Navy veteran of WWII. As I watched this video I remembered standing among all of the graves of the brave during the flag ceremony for my father and thinking, thank God for these. Thank God for America. God Bless America.
While Obama was sitting and nodding while his pastor was damning America for twenty years men like Michael Monsoor were standing for America.
Obama does not deserve to be the Commander in Chief of men like Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor.
Prayers for the family. We will not forget. God Bless the family. God Bless America.

I mean someone who’s living who would qualify for a Medal of Honor. Am I incorrect in my recollection that all the MoHs given out so far have been posthumously?

Vatican Watcher on March 18, 2008 at 10:58 AM

You are correct. For whatever reason the criteria for winning that award now seems to include losing ones life. Matt Burden over at Blackfive has written about this very subject. We have plenty of service members whose actions are indeed worthy of the MOH, and sometimes the process for awarding the medal takes some time, but there are plenty of living members who are worthy of receiving the award. In a different day and different time they would have probably already been awarded it. It is but another burden that our service members accept as a fact of life. Medals are not something you set out to earn. Respect is, and it is far better to have respect then a chest full of medals.
It is time to put the previous Greatest Generation behind us and start honoring the current Greatest Generation. A group made up not of draftees but volunteers each and every one.

Thank you for the link. I have not heard of that tour before. Alas, they are coming somewhere close to me, but it’s only two weeks from now. I’ll have to email up there and find out about accommodations I’d need…

You are correct. For whatever reason the criteria for winning that award now seems to include losing ones life. Matt Burden over at Blackfive has written about this very subject. We have plenty of service members whose actions are indeed worthy of the MOH, and sometimes the process for awarding the medal takes some time, but there are plenty of living members who are worthy of receiving the award. In a different day and different time they would have probably already been awarded it. It is but another burden that our service members accept as a fact of life. Medals are not something you set out to earn. Respect is, and it is far better to have respect then a chest full of medals.
It is time to put the previous Greatest Generation behind us and start honoring the current Greatest Generation. A group made up not of draftees but volunteers each and every one.

Just A Grunt on March 18, 2008 at 11:11 AM

Exactly. Your point about respect being earned is a great one and I totally agree with it. Your comments about the MoH criteria are quite valid and I wonder at that.

Hail to him, and the wonderful family who raised him with these values in his mind!!! Should be broadcast on a Jumbotron in the House and Senate. Also live on a Jumbotron in Berkeley, and recorded on a loop and played over, and over, and over.

It is time to put the previous Greatest Generation behind us and start honoring the current Greatest Generation. A group made up not of draftees but volunteers each and every one.

Just A Grunt on March 18, 2008 at 11:11 AM

I agree, these troops fighting for us now, some so young, deserve to be honored and respected. These anti-war cowards need to be put in their places and silenced. By silenced, I mean no media coverage whatsoever. The ones who break the law should be thrown in jail, not have their wrists slapped.

“Am I incorrect in my recollection that all the MoHs given out so far have been posthumously?”

For some reason, it takes an inordinately long time for a MOH to be given to a living service member.

I was at the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, for the Marine Corps sunset parade (every Tues. during the summer) three or four years back, and the Marines awarded a MOH to a Navy Corpsman – Vietnam era.

It took 30 years.

Interesting fact – ALL service members must salute a MOH winner, when he wears that medal. Even if the salutee outranks the bearer.

(I couldn’t help but notice that the two links are to military.com and the Marine Corps Times, respectively. Why should the story of such a great man exist in a vacuum? WHy does the dinosaur media shrug their jaded shoulders at real heroes and move on to the next perverted sex scandal?)

Yo! Terrorists! When we die due to an explosive next to our chest, it’s to save people, not kill them. That is a kind of bravery you’ll never know and a selflessness your religion apparently doesn’t teach.

Tony… becareful with vets for freedom. I have serious issue with them in my State right now. I have respect if they are vets, but for those who are not and are screaming and handling out flyers that are anti-military when recruiters are at my schools.

“It has never been more important to ensure our fellow Americans understand what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan. The surge is working, and political and economic progress is occurring; yet mainstream media is failing to tell the story. Our Tour will highlight local veterans and inform your community, local lawmakers, and media about the incredible bravery and sacrifice of our troops, and the progress our Soldiers and Marines are achieving.”

Tony… becareful with vets for freedom. I have serious issue with them in my State right now. I have respect if they are vets, but for those who are not and are screaming and handling out flyers that are anti-military when recruiters are at my schools.

They are different in every state.. trust me.

upinak on March 18, 2008 at 1:36 PM

I think that is probably Vote Vets or the IVAW, unless another organization has stolen the Vets for Freedom name. The real Vets for Freedom is made up of real veterans and is very pro-military and pro-victory.

What: Vets on the Hill: Vets for Freedom will hold America’s single largest gathering of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Participants will gather for a rally and media event and meet with their representatives to express their first hand experiences and explain why it is essential to complete the mission in Iraq and Afghanistan

He is definantly a true American hero. I went to Garden Grove High School with Michael and i played on the basketball team with his older brother. His medal of honor is well deserved and he will never be forgotten.

It isn’t like I don’t know what I am talking about.
upinak on March 18, 2008 at 2:09 PM

You do not know what you’re talking about. Your original point was that Vets for Freedom is handing out anti-military literature on college campi. The Vets for Freedom led by David Bellavia, a man who is in for a Medal of Honor and the author of “House to House”, would never condone such an activity, therefore anyone doing such a thing does so without the blessing of the group. That is totally contrary to the mission statement of Vets for Freedom.
I encourage people to support Vets for Freedom (full disclosure: I am a member and have donated) despite upinak’s incoherent ramblings.